631.4 - SERVICE -- TIME FOR APPEARANCE. - Iowa Statutes

631.4 SERVICE -- TIME FOR APPEARANCE. The manner of service of original notice and the times for appearance shall be as provided in this section. 1. Actions for money judgment or replevin. In an action for money judgment or an action of replevin the clerk shall cause service to be obtained as follows, and the defendant is required to appear within the period of time specified: a. If the defendant is a resident of this state, or if the defendant is a nonresident of this state and is subject to the jurisdiction of the court under rule of civil procedure 1.306, the plaintiff may elect service under this paragraph, and upon receipt of the prescribed costs the clerk shall mail to the defendant by certified mail, restricted delivery, return receipt to the clerk requested, a copy of the original notice together with a conforming copy of an answer form. However, if the defendant is a corporation, partnership, or association, the clerk shall mail to the defendant by certified mail, return receipt to the clerk requested, a copy of the original notice with a conforming copy of an answer form. The defendant is required to appear within twenty days following the date service is made. b. If the defendant is a resident of this state, or if the defendant is a nonresident of this state and is subject to the jurisdiction of the court under rule of civil procedure 1.306, the plaintiff may elect service under this paragraph, and upon receipt of the prescribed costs the clerk shall cause a copy of the original notice and a conforming copy of an answer form to be delivered to a peace officer or other person for personal service as provided in rule of civil procedure 1.302(5), 1.305, or 1.306. The defendant is required to appear within twenty days following the date service is made. c. If the defendant is a nonresident of this state and is subject to the jurisdiction of the court under rule of civil procedure 1.306, the plaintiff may elect service in any other manner that is approved by the court as provided in that rule, and the defendant is required to appear within sixty days after the date of service. d. If the defendant is a nonresident of this state and is subject to the jurisdiction of the court under section 617.3, the plaintiff may elect that service be made as provided in that section. The clerk shall collect the prescribed fees and costs, and shall cause duplicate copies of the original notice to be filed with the secretary of state and shall cause a copy of the original notice and a conforming copy of an answer form to be mailed to the defendant in the manner prescribed in section 617.3. The defendant is required to appear within sixty days from the date of filing with the secretary of state. 2. Actions for forcible entry and detainer. a. In an action for forcible entry and detainer under chapter 648, the clerk shall set a date, time and place for hearing, and shall cause service as provided in this subsection. b. Original notice shall be served personally upon each defendant as provided in rule of civil procedure 1.305, which service shall be made at least three days prior to the date set for hearing. Upon receipt of the prescribed costs the clerk shall cause the original notice to be delivered to a peace officer or other person for service upon each defendant. c. If personal service cannot be made upon each defendant, as provided in rule of civil procedure 1.305, the plaintiff may elect to post, after at least two attempts to perfect service upon each defendant, one or more copies of the original notice upon the real property being detained by each defendant at least three days prior to the date set for hearing. The attempts to perfect personal service may be made on the same day. In addition to posting, the plaintiff shall also mail, by certified mail, to each defendant, at the place held out by each defendant as the place for receipt of such communications or, in the absence of such designation, at each defendant's last known place of residence, a copy of the original notice at least three days prior to the date set for hearing. Under this paragraph, service shall be deemed complete upon each defendant by the filing with the clerk of the district court of one or more affidavits indicating that a copy of the original notice was both posted and mailed to each defendant as provided in this paragraph, whether or not the defendant signs a receipt for the notice. d. If personal service cannot be made upon each defendant in an action for forcible entry and detainer joined with an action for rent or recovery pursuant to section 648.19, service may be made pursuant to paragraph "c". 3. Actions for abandonment of manufactured or mobile homes or personal property pursuant to chapter 555B. a. In an action for abandonment of a manufactured or mobile home or personal property, the clerk shall set a date, time, and place for hearing, and shall cause service to be made as provided in this subsection. b. Original notice shall be served personally on each defendant as provided in section 555B.4.          Section History: Early Form [C73, § 631.3--631.5; C75, 77, 79, 81, § 631.4]          Section History: Recent Form 84 Acts, ch 1322, § 2; 86 Acts, ch 1077, § 2; 93 Acts, ch 154, §19, 20; 95 Acts, ch 125, §13; 96 Acts, ch 1203, § 7; 99 Acts, ch 155, §13, 14; 2001 Acts, ch 153, §15; 2001 Acts, ch 176, §80; 2004 Acts, ch 1101, §85; 2009 Acts, ch 21, §12 Referred to in § 562A.29A, 562B.27A, 631.3